I Saw A Walking Dead Man

Habakkuk 2:5
Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, and he does not stay at home.
Because he enlarges his desire as hell, and He is like death and cannot be satisfied.

Trapped....
Oh, you can move about. Hold down a job (if you can). Travel and visit other towns. But you can never escape the prison that is inside. The place where your thoughts, your emotions, and your feelings are locked away and not allowed to be free. A prison where you constantly are belittled and beat down. A prison where every time you look into a mirror you see only a person who has no value to anyone. On top of all of this, your will has been taken away and you suffer from a a raging case of wrong desires and an appetite for things that will only add to your pain and suffering.
Trapped.
Welcome to the wonderful world of addiction.

Recently I was sitting in a local fast food restaurant trying to put the finishing touches on a teaching I was to give. People were coming and going, and I was oblivious to what was happening around me, when suddenly I hear, "Bro. Mike!" I looked  up and there he was. I haven't seen him in a number of years, and his appearance caught me off guard. There had been rumors that he'd return to the old life. Sobriety had been to hard for him. Marriage gone wrong. Bad friends. Not going to any meetings had started him down the slippery slope to where he is today. He probably didn't weigh 120 pounds. Eyes sunken and dark. Skin looked waxy, and a smile revealed that he'd lost some teeth. He tried to put on a good show, telling me how he was doing well, and that it was good to see me. But the eyes don't lie. They were dead....lifeless. There in that moment, I felt such sadness coming from him. It was if he was crying out saying, "Please help me..do something!" All offers I made to him were rejected. I don't believe it was him that rejected it, I do believe it was the addiction talking through this man."I can't go to rehab...I've got to much to do. Maybe when I get caught up, I can take the time off and get myself straight." Tomorrow is a wonderful day to someone in addiction. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished.........tomorrow.

I reminded him that it was never too late to get help or to turn this whole mess around. He agreed, but his words were hollow and empty. I did not want to lay any more guilt or shame on him than he was carrying around. Such will only drive someone deeper into their addiction. I got a chance to pray for him. He hugged my neck and asked that I don't quit praying. I assured him that I would never stop praying for him. I guess part of the reason I'm posting this today is that I'm asking you to join with me in praying for this man. Let's call him "BOB". That isn't his real name and I have my reasons why I'm not giving it. Please pray that God would remind Bob of all the things He has done for him in the past. Ask God to break off the hardness of the heart and blindness from the eyes, so that Bob can't hear and receive the truth. Ask God to put His people in Bob's path so that he will be lead to a place where he wants to give up and get help. Ask God to cover Bob with His protection, and not allow the enemy to kill him. Thanks....you guys are the greatest.

God on you....
mb